Evidence-Based Approach for Making Cochlear Implant Recommendations for Infants With Residual Hearing

Abstract

Results suggest that recommendation for implantation can be made confidently for children presenting with bilateral profound hearing loss. For children with unaided PTA hearing levels in the range of 75 to 90 dB HL, a recommendation for implantation can also be made, provided that a 75% chance of improvement in hearing outcome is an acceptable level of benefit to the family and clinician. Children presenting with PTA hearing levels better than 75 dB HL should be encouraged to continue with binaural HA use.

European Bilateral Pediatric Cochlear Implant Forum Consensus Statement

“…Early implantation reduces not only the duration of auditory deprivation but maximizes the potential advantages of early plasticity of the auditory system for effective (re)habilitation. Children with complex etiologies, progressive hearing loss, or significant residual hearing in 1 or both ears can present diagnostic difficulties and require behavioral testing to determine implant candidacy (13). Some of these children will eventually become unambiguous implant candidates and proceed to bilateral cochlear implantation.…”

Barriers to early cochlear implantation

“…This precursory HA trial, however, is no longer considered best practice for children whose pure-tone average is greater than 80 dB (Leigh et al, 2011). Instead, current recommended practice is prompt referral to a CI clinic.…”

Crouzon Syndrome: Visual Diagnosis

“…The canal volumes were normal for his age. Speech awareness threshold (intensity of sound; minimum hearing level for speech at which an individual can just detect the presence of speech sounds 50% of the time without understanding the sounds or words) was 60 decibels hearing level (normal, À10 to +20 decibels hearing level), indicative of moderately severe hearing loss (Leigh, Dettman, Dowell, & Sarant, 2011).…”